Iran

[ORAC]

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https://x.com/ArmchairAdml/status/20...094524890?s=20

#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity 17 February - 0930z

Total flights have risen to at least 176, with air force-related flights now being the majority. Flights from Spangdahlem, RAF Lakenheath and McEntire JNGB are headed to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, and a number of tankers have deployed overnight.

Coronet East 030 with the CLEAN tankers now appears to be for McEntire F-16s which are headed for Naval Station Rota/Moron, whereas the ROMA tankers have filed for RAF Mildenhall and are likely bringing F-22 Raptors to RAF Lakenheath today.

As hightlighted by @Andyyyyrrrr, a U-2S Dragonlady has deployed from RAF Fairford today towards the Middle East, as well as two E-3 Sentrys arriving at RAF Mildenhall this morning.

Coronet East 030 -

169th Fighter Wing Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 2x
#AE0153 63-8002 - CLEAN 33
#AE0151 57-1493 - CLEAN 23

Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 2x
#AE5BC1 16-46016 - CLEAN 32
#AE5F97 18-46044 - CLEAN 22

Coronet East 030 looks to be dragging a number of F-16s from McEntire JNGB. CLEAN 23/33 look like they'll drag them part of the way and return to MacDill AFB, with CLEAN 22/32 taking them to Spain.

Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, Jordan

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 6x
#AE117C 02-1110 - REACH 710 (Spangdahlem Air Base)
#AE1461 06-6163 - REACH 538 (Spangdahlem Air Base)
#AE117D 02-1111 - REACH 277 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE4F15 10-0221 - REACH 877 (RAF Lakenheath)
#AE1239 04-4129 - REACH 271 (Roosevelt Roads NAS)
#AE123D 04-4132 - REACH 536 (Biggs AAF)

Lots of deployment support now flowing into Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, flights from RAF Lakenheath supporting the 495th Fighter Squadron "LN" F-35As which deployed yesterday, as well as "SP" F-16s from Spangdahlem Air Base - although those fighters haven't moved yet.

Other Airlift Movements

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III 5x
#AE49C6 09-9210 - REACH 830 (McEntire JNGB)
#AE2FAA 08-8198 - REACH 831 (McEntire JNGB)
#AE0805 99-0059 - REACH 864 (McEntire JNGB)
#AE2FA8 08-8196 - REACH 853 (McEntire JNGB)
#AE07E9 95-0106 - REACH 893 (McEntire JNGB)

Lockheed C-5 Super Galaxy 1x
#AE0589 87-0044 - REACH 1803 (Roosevelt Roads NAS)

Five C-17 flight have positioned to McEntire Joint National Guard Base where F-16s are based, these will fly to wherever those F-16s decide to deploy. Muwaffaq Salti may be close to full, and so these may go to Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia.

Tanker Movements

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 5x
#AE0157 58-0083 - REACH 532
#AE0598 59-1521 - Unknown C/S
#AE023C 63-8888 - Unknown C/S
#AE0651 58-0057 - REACH 288
#AE0471 57-1451 - REACH 129 Boeing

KC-46 Pegasus 1x
#AE5E08 17-46027 - REACH 292

Six KC-135s have arrived overnight at Chania Airport, Naval Station Rota and Sofia Airport. These don't appear to be on Coronets and are potentially being staged for refuelling bombers. A single KC-46 has positioned to Lajes as well.

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#USAF United States Air Force - Middle East Activity (Coronet) 17 February - 1129z

There are currently 36x F-16s and 12x F-22s on the move, or about to depart towards the Middle East. 12x F-16s each from Aviano and Spangdahlem in Europe, and 12x from McEntire Joint National Guard Base.

F-22 Raptors as TREND 51 flight have departed Langley Air Force Base with ROMA tankers on Coronet East 033.

USAFE Movements

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 4x
#AE04C4 59-1475 - LAGER 12 (Chania, "AV") (with Nicosia 124.200, confirmed with 6x F-16s)
#AE048A 63-8008 - LAGER 13 (Chania, "AV")
#AE0669 62-3540 - LAGER 14 (Ramstein, "SP")
#AE0659 59-1464 - LAGER 10 (Ramstein, "SP")

LAGER 12/13 are supporting "AV" F-16s from Aviano Air Base in Italy, and LAGER 10/14 supporting the "SP" F-16s from Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.

Coronet East 030

Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker 3x
#AE0151 57-1493 - CLEAN 23
#AE0153 63-8002 - CLEAN 33
#AE938D 63-7976 - CLEAN 31

Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 1x
#AE5F97 18-46044 - CLEAN 22

Four CLEAN tankers are supporting TABOR 71-76 and TABOR 81-86 flight of F-16s from McEntire JNGB. They will cross the Atlantic to Spain.

Coronet East 033

Boeing KC-46 Pegasus 1x
#AE63B1 15-46069 - ROMA 01

​​​​​​​ROMA 01 has met with the first flight of F-22 Raptors from Langley Air Force Base, headed for RAF Lakenheath.